Newsletter No. 16 - Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage ...

HERITAGE
NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION
OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC.
JULY - AUGUST 2011 ISSUE No. 16
The Katoomba Waltz dedicated
to an early chief justice
By John Leary, OAM
NSW HAS A NEW CHIEF JUSTICE, Tom Bathurst.
With the delay in announcing a replacement for the
incumbent, Jim Spigelman; barrister cum journalist
Richard Ackland, published in the Sydney Morning
Herald a speculative piece as to who might fill the office
and if in fact there is a need for such an office.
Enchantingly, chief justices still live with us, in name. A
Sydney ferry was named after Sir Leslie Herron’s wife
and Mary McCarron Maguire composed The Katoomba
Waltz in honour of Sir Frederick Darley. 1
Asked to name a popular waltz, most will recall the
magic of Andre Rieu’s presentations around the world
of either the The Blue Danube Waltz or the Emperor
Waltz.
However, few other than local historians would be
aware of Mary McCarron Maguire’s, Katoomba Waltz
dedicated to Sir Frederick Darley (then Lieutenant
Governor of NSW) and Lady Darley who lived in
“Lilianfels”, Katoomba.
Published in 1895, The Katoomba Waltz was first
performed at Government House in Sydney and was
performed at the Tivoli Theatre in August 1895. The
music was added to the repertoire of the NSW Artillery
Regiment Band.
The Sydney Morning Herald of the day pronounced it ‘a
dashing composition admirably suited to ballroom
purposes’
The rediscovery in 1989 of Mary McCarron Maguire’s,
Katoomba Waltz has led to speculation about a ‘lost
school’ of popular composers whose works were
inspired by the natural splendours of the Blue
Mountains.
Little is known about Mary McCarron Maguire but she
published two other waltzes, The Antonina and the
Commonwealth during the decade 1890 - 1900, the
Commmonwealth evidently inspired by the coming
Federation in 1901. Two other musical items from 1890
- 1910 are a mazurka, Leura Falls by Alicia Nolan and
The Cascade Waltz by Louis L Howarde. 2
Very few details are known about Maguire’s life, other
than that she was one of two daughters of a Woollahra
family.
This beautiful and delicately designed sheet music
cover for the Katoomba Waltz is held in the National
Library of Australia, Canberra
which has approved the publication of this image
nla.mus-an 10996145-1-v
They lived at “Lansdown” in Edgecliff Road, and were
frequent guests at Government House and Admiralty
House garden parties, and at lord mayoral receptions.
Her sister Blanche was a semi-professional actress in
the 1890s.
Sir Frederick Matthew Darley was born on September
18, 1830 in Dublin, Ireland. The first child of Henry
Darley of Wingfield, Bray County Wicklow and his wife
Maria Louise nee West.
At Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on December 13, 1860,
Darley married Lucy Forest Brown, from Melbourne, a
daughter of Captain Sylvester Brown (master mariner)
and his wife Eliza Angell nee Alexander.
Continued page 4
HERITAGE 1
July - August 2011

Contents.........
HERITAGE
July - August 2011
* P1 The Katoomba
Waltz dedicated to
an early chief
justice
* P2 Council’s call for
public
participation in
heritage advisory
role welcomed
* P3 Local history blog
* P3 Grant awarded to
BMACHO
* P3 Telstra grant for
workshops
* P5 Evans opened the
way to the west
* P9 What would you
keep in an empty
jar?
* P11 Dear old golden
rules days
* P13 Crumbled chimney
stack only
reminder of Polar
explorer who lived
in Woodford
* P14 Special days in
World War 1
* P16 Historic 1880s
Carrington Hotel to
be venue for BM
history conference
* P16 Jean Arthur in BM
Hospital
* P17 School of Arts or
Mechanics
Institutes have
their origin in
early 19th century
* P18 Council explains
LEP processes
* P20 Heritage briefs
around the world
* P21 The Domesday
Book
From the editor’s pen......
THOSE INTERESTED in the
protection and conservation of our
heritage will welcome Blue Mountains
City Council’s recent decision to
establish a heritage advisory
committee of council.
The prompt action of council staff in
calling for nominations from the
community soon after the decision is
also worthy of commendation.
Blue Mountains Association of Cultural
Heritage Organisations (BMACHO)
has for several years been advocating
the establishment of a heritage
advisory committee of council.
Council’s call for public
participation in heritage
advisory role welcomed
BMACHO has on occasions expressed
concerns at what seemed to be delays
in the process of having council accept
the proposal for such a committee
which are not uncommon in other local
government units around the state and
in fact in Australia.
On this occasion credit is due to the
elected members of council and it’s
planning staff for the decision which
should ultimately benefit council in its
deliberations on heritage issues.
It is pleasing to BMACHO that council
has acceded to some of the requests
made by those in the heritage sector,
both volunteers and professionals.
Council’s decision to establish a
heritage advisory council
acknowledges the wealth of
knowledge concerning the region’s
heritage and history, gained over many
years by members of historical and
heritage societies in the region.
In BMACHO’s view there are still some
issues that its members would have
liked to have seen included in the
terms of reference for the
establishment of the committee.
However, within the wide parameter of
council’s objectives those who council
decides to appoint to the committee
should be able to provide some
valuable expertise in matters of
heritage advice.
Those who apply to be considered for
appointment to the heritage advisory
committee need to be very much aware
that heritage is but a small part of the
sometimes lengthy process of planning,
a point that BMACHO has been stating
for many years.
One of council’s stated objectives for
the heritage advisory committee, is a
review of the heritage component of
LEP 1991. This is the type of activity on
which those in the heritage sector of our
community are well equipped to
provide.
Council recently released a quite
comprehensive and easily understood,
clear language document dealing with
LEP processes and again this has been
a worthwhile initiative of council’s
planning staff.
In welcoming council’s decision to work
more closely with the community it
serves, (and in particular the not
insignificant number of residents who
have an abiding interest in our heritage
and history) --- it is suggested there are
a number of important ingredients to the
ultimate success of this heritage
advisory committee.
These are the need for those elected
from the community to understand their
work is limited to heritage issues only
and that there must be an acceptance
by them of the necessary and legal
protocols council and its staff must
observe.
There is also a need for council’s staff
to accept the limitations and ambitions
of those who volunteer for this
committee.
These community members need to be
given dignity with tasks that allow them
to believe they are contributing
something worthwhile to the community
in which they live, so they may share
pride in achievement and not left to feel
they just ‘rubber stamp’ the work of
staff, without having had any real input
into the processes.
John Leary, OAM - Past President,
Blue Mountains Association of
Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.
HERITAGE 2
July - August 2011

LOCAL
HISTORY
BLOG
JUST over six months ago
Springwood Historians launched
a public/social history blog, or
weblog.
One of the newer forms of
‘engaging and interacting’ with a
wider audience, the blog or
weblog aims to disseminate and
gather historical facts and
information related to the Blue
Mountains.
The content is eclectic and
changes regularly as new stories
and information are added
almost on a daily basis.
Some of the content, like the
personal profiles of the
Springwood Historians, and
maps and general information
related to the area - remain
static, while older posts, which
have been archived, can be
accessed through the search
facility on the weblog.
A ‘comment’ feature on the blog
provides visitors with the ability
to interact, which is something
that Springwood Historians are
keen to encourage. Another
objective is to engage local
schools.
So far the weblog has been
viewed by more than 2,500
visitors from countries like the
USA, UK, Canada, Russia, New
Zealand and South Korea, and
attracted favourable comments
from local historians,
genealogists and public
historian, Cathy Stanton.
Pamela Smith, the editor of the
blog, stated that although the
blog is primarily focused on the
Springwood area at present, they
are eager to include stories on
the wider Blue Mountains.
The address of the weblog is
http://
springwoodhistorians.blogspot or
simply type Springwood
Historians into the Google
Search engine.
Grant awarded to BMACHO
FOR THE FOURTH YEAR in
succession, BMACHO has been
awarded a Commonwealth
Government grant of $2,300 by the
Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Populations
and Communities under its 2010 -
2011 GVEHO Program.
The program is intended to help
cover administrative operational
costs.
BMACHO is most appreciative of
this continued generous
Commonwealth support.
It is both recognition of the value of
BMACHO to the heritage
community and a practical
contribution that makes the
organisation’s work possible.
The GVEHO grant is invaluable in
helping to meet the routine
administrative costs of the
Association.
It has also supported workshops,
the newsletter and other activities
and allows the committee to
concentrate on finding funding from
other sources for special projects
such as the Journal and major
workshops.
Overall, BMACHO has a sound
record (80%) of success in its grant
applications.
This year it has applied for two new
project grants that would enable it
to serve its membership more
effectively and to contribute even
more to heritage work in the region.
Grant applications require time and
care in their preparation and, if
successful, in the responsible
management of the funds
received.
There are, however, some useful
tips on how to minimise the
workload and increase the chances
of success.
A workshop is being planned to
assist members in the grant
programs for their own societies.
Anybody interested in participating
in the workshop, is asked to contact
Barrie Reynolds by phone:
4757 4725, or by email:
barrie.r@bigpond.net.au.
Professor Barrie Reynolds,
BMACHO’s grants officer and
former inaugural secretary
TELSTRA
GRANT FOR
WORKSHOPS
MEANTIME, advice has just been
received of BMACHO’s success
with another grant application
Telstra has generously awarded
a grant of $5,025 under its Telstra
Connected Seniors Grant
Program, to enable BMACHO to
provide a series of training
workshops on the use of the
internet for on-line historical
research and information
services in the heritage field.
Anybody interested please
contact Barrie Reynolds:
barrie.r@bigpond.net.au
or 4757 4725.
Telstra Connected Seniors® is a
tailored program created to help
older Australians learn more
about technology.
It offers individual self teach
guides, fun interactive workshops,
and also offers eligible community
groups with the opportunity of
funding to run successful training
courses around technology.
It is anticipated these workshops
will be conducted between
February and May 2012.
HERITAGE 3
July - August 2011

Darley came to Australia on advice of
another chief justice
Continued from page 1
Darley and his wife came to
Australia in 1862, on the advice of
Sir Alfred Stephen (the Chief Justice
of NSW) who convinced him that he
would further his career in the
colony.
Sir Frederick was knighted in 1887
and served five times as the
Lieutenant Governor of NSW. The
longest and most important being
from January 24, 1900 to May 27,
1902, spanning the creation of the
Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
In August 1888, Sir Frederick Darley
purchased more than 11 acres of
land adjacent to Echo Point in
Katoomba and enlisted Varney
Parkes, the architect son of close
friend, Sir Henry Parkes to design
“Lilianfels” as a summer home.
The Darleys had seven children, six
daughters and two sons and it was
Lilian, who died at age 22 suffering
tuberculosis, for whom the
Katoomba property was named: the
ending ‘fels’ has a German
meaning, ‘rocky ground’.
“Katoomba will in the future be historic from having as a resident one
eminent Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Darley and his family at Lilianfels.
Sir Frederick has spared no pains in laying the foundation of a fine
garden and is said to have trenched a large portion of his property in
order to grow fruit successfully.” Illustrated Sydney News 1890
During the years in which Sir
Frederick and Lady Darley resided
near Echo Point, nearly every noted
visitor to Australia accepted their
hospitality and enjoyed the
magnificent outlook.
Royalty, vice-royalty and princes of
statesmanship, jurisprudence,
science and art came in turn to view
the mountains from the magnificent
vantage point of Lilianfels. 3
Footnotes
1.
Ackland, Richard, The Sydney
Morning Herald May 6, 2011
2.
Leves, Kerry Blue Mountains –
Pictorial Memories by John Low
3.
HERITAGE November-December
2009
Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine Historical Society Inc.
CANCELLATION OF MEETING
Due to severe storm damage ongoing this week in Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine
the mid-year general meeting planned for
Saturday, 16 July, 2011
has been cancelled
The following bulletin issued today, July 6 by Beth Raines, Captain of the local Brigade of the Rural Fire Service
will give some idea of the extent of the damage:
On Tuesday afternoon the two
Mounts were hit with a massive
wind storm with pretty devastating
results. High winds have continued
and are expected to abate on
Friday. There have been major tree
losses along all roads and Mt Irvine
Road, Mt Wilson Road and The
Avenue were finally cleared
yesterday morning with all minor
roads (except Waterfall Road) being
cleared by Wednesday evening.
Telephone (landline) services have
been interrupted but are now
restored in places. Power has been
off since Tuesday afternoon and is
not expected to be restored for days
yet - realistically not until next week.
We have had Council crews working
alongside Brigade members to
remove trees off the road to allow
access. Conditions here are very
cold and windy, there is a huge
amount of debris everywhere and
power lines are still down in many
places.
I am sure all members and friends of the Historical Society will join with me in sending warm wishes of support to
all those affected by the widespread storms throughout the region.
Florence Smart Secretary Tel. 9416 1957 Email.smart.delbridge@bigpond.com
HERITAGE 4
July - August 2011

EVANS OPENED THE WAY TO THE WEST
By John Leary, OAM
THERE IS A SERIES of interrelated
events immediately after
Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth
crossed the Blue Mountains in May
and June 1813.
George William Evans began his
survey of a roadway across the
Blue Mountains in November 1813
and went as far as the future
Bathurst.
William Cox then supervised the
construction of the road from July
1814 to January 1815. Governor
Macquarie travelled along the new
road in April and May 1815 and
selected the site of Bathurst.
There is however, a body of opinion
that in fact Evans was ‘the first
European to cross the Great
Dividing Range’ the three explorers,
Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson
not actually having crossed the
main range.
What is uncontestable is the fact
that in surveying a roadway from
Emu Ford on the Nepean River to
Bathurst and the subsequent
building of the road by William Cox,
opened up the interior to ensure the
prosperity of the colony.
It allowed the creation and
maintenance of a strong national
economy based on pastoral and
rural industries well into the second
half of the 20 th century.
Severe drought in the years
immediately before the ‘crossing’
almost forced the small settlement
which would eventually become
Australia’s largest city to be
abandoned.
The crossing of the mountains, the
surveying of the road and its
construction in quick succession
gave new found impetus to the
colony.
Instructed by Governor Lachlan
Macquarie, Evans the then Deputy-
Surveyor of Lands was — “to
proceed in the Attempt of Effecting
a Passage over the great Range
and to discover what Description of
Country lay to the Westward of
them.” 1
“the first
European
to cross
the Great
Dividing
Range”
Governor Lachlan Macquarie sent
Evans across the Blue Mountains
into the Wiradjuri nation of centralwestern
New South Wales to
confirm the findings of the
exploration party of Blaxland,
Lawson and Wentworth.
He was the first European to record
meeting with the Wiradjuri people of
the region. 2
Evans generally followed the route
of Blaxland, Lawson and
Wentworth, reaching the end of
their route at a point Evans named
Mount Blaxland.
Evans’ party then moved on and
discovered the Fish River area and
further west near the junction of the
now named Fish and Campbell
Rivers and described two plains in
his view, the O’Connell Plains and
the Macquarie Plains.
Evans had made a significant
decision, by determining to carry
out the second part of Macquarie’s
instructions first, i.e. by surveying
beyond the explorers’ terminal
point, which he did by starting at the
foot of Mt York. Here he marked a
tree on November 25, 1813 and
measured westward to his later
George William Evans image courtesy National Library of
Australia pic - vn 3509777 - v
selected objective at the Macquarie
River, reaching there on December
9, 1813.
Returning to his Marked Tree at the
River Lett, which is described in his
Survey Field Book (see AONSW
Ref. Reel 2623) … “About 10
chains from the River Lett, and the
mouth of a drain about 4 chains left”
he then started on December 31,
1813, the survey of the explorers
track, which he completed to Emu
Ford on January 8, 1814.
Even today, with a team of
surveyors using modern surveying
equipment including GPS, digital
theodolites and laser distance
measures, such a feat would be
difficult to emulate in a similar
period of time and particularly as
Evans had little qualified
assistance.
Evans’ party included Richard Lewis
and James Burns, both ‘Free Men’
and three convicts, James
Cooghan, John Grover and John
Tygh.
Their names were recorded for
posterity by Arthur J Hand, as street
names when he subdivided the
Lapstone Estate.
Continued page 6
HERITAGE 5
July - August 2011

Evans’ reward — £100 and 1000 acres of land
Continued from page 5
Macquarie rewarded Evans with
£100 and a grant of 1000 acres
(405 ha) on the Coal River near
Richmond, Van Dieman’s Land.
Evans and his family sailed for
Hobart in May 1814, but Macquarie
recalled him in March 1815 to act
as a guide on a tour of the recently
discovered country through which
William Cox had constructed a road
to Bathurst. 3
settlement on land granted to him
the previous year.
This venture failed during the
disastrous flood of March 1806, but
he remained in occupation until
Lieutenant-Governor William
Paterson appointed him assistant
surveyor at Port Dalrymple in 1809.
However, his services were needed
in Sydney and he did not leave to
take up this office.
By 1814 Evans was no stranger to
the Australian bush and the hazards
of surveying in uncharted territory.
Born on January 5, 1780, the third
child and eldest son of William
Evans, secretary to the Earl, of
Warwick, of the Parish of St James,
Westminster, England and his wife
Ann nee Southam; young George
served an apprenticeship with an
engineer and architect and gained
some elementary training in
surveying.
In 1798 he married Jennett,
daughter of Captain Thomas
Melville, commander of the
Britannia in the Third Fleet and
migrated to the Cape of Good
Hope.
He was employed in the Naval
Store-keeper’s Department at Table
Bay and remained there until May
1802 when, in compliance with the
treaty of Amiens, British forces were
withdrawn.
Evans then aged 22 was persuaded
by Captain William Kent to go to
New South Wales and arrived at
Port Jackson in HMS Buffalo on
October 16, 1802.
Initially Evans was given the
position of store-keeper in charge of
the receipt and issue of grain at
Parramatta, but in August 1803 he
was appointed by Governor King as
acting surveyor-general in the
absence of Charles Grimes who
was on leave in England.
In September 1804 he discovered
and explored the Warragamba
River, penetrating upstream to the
present site of Warragamba Dam.
Discharged from the Survey
Department by Governor Philip
Gidley King in February 1805, he
began farming at the Hawkesbury
In March 1812, he surveyed the
shores of Jervis Bay whence he led
a small party overland on foot to
Appin. This journey of two weeks
was conducted under most arduous
circumstances and resulted in the
settlement of the Illawarra district
during the drought years that soon
followed.
His success probably induced
Governor Lachlan Macquarie to
later select him for the task of
penetrating the interior of New
South Wales.
In September 1812 he went to Van
Diemen’s Land with the acting
surveyor-general, James Meehan,
to remeasure grants made by
former lieutenant-governors. These
grants were in a deplorable state
through the inefficiency and
misconduct of deputy-surveyors
George Harris and Peter Mills. 4
While thus engaged he was
appointed in November 1812
deputy-surveyor of lands, Van
Diemen’s Land, but in August 1813
he was recalled to Sydney and
instructed to try to find a passage
into the interior.
In May and June 1814, Evans led
another expedition from Bathurst
southward to within sight of the
Abercrombie River, explored the
middle reaches of the Belubula
River, discovered the Lachlan River
eight miles (13 km) downstream
from Cowra, and traced its course
as far as Mandagery Creek.
In July 1815 he returned to Hobart,
remaining until 1817 when he was
required to act as second-incommand
to Surveyor-General
John Oxley in an expedition then
setting out from Bathurst to
determine the course of the Lachlan
River.
EVANS’ WATCH. Astronomical
observation are made to determine
azimuths, latitudes and longitudes
on the earth. Evans’ watch would
have been used in the timing of the
observations to determine the
the direction of true north and the
latitude and longitude of
Bathurst using solar or star
observations. A watch error
correction is applied to adjust
the azimuth observation related to
the true north meridian based on
Greenwich mean time.
Though forced to return by flooded
marsh country when about nine
miles (14 km) below Booligal; Oxley
paid tribute to Evans’ able advice
and co-operation, and the accuracy
and fidelity of his earlier narrative.
In September 1817 Evans returned
to Van Diemen’s Land, but six
months later he was again recalled
to fill the position of second-incommand
to Oxley, this time in his
attempt to trace the Macquarie
River to its termination.
Once again flooded marshes
proved too great an obstacle, so the
party turned eastward to Port
Macquarie and thence southward to
Port Stephens. After twenty-three
weeks the exploration was
completed in November 1818.
Evans returned to Hobart and for
the first time since his appointment
as deputy-surveyor was able to
confine his attention to his duties in
Van Diemen’s Land, where land
surveys were in serious arrears
through inadequate staff and
continual demands for his services
on exploration.
Continued page 7
HERITAGE 6
July - August 2011

Evans’ alleged bribery involvement
Continued from page 6
William Sorell had a high opinion of
Evans, but the administration was
lax and the surveyor had great
power. Not only were mistakes often
made but, in the issue of grants, a
certain discretionary power was
given to surveyors to ‘throw in’
additional pieces of land.
Sorell also sanctioned the
acceptance of ‘presents of office’ by
surveyors to supplement their
inadequate pay.
This practice understandably
brought complaints and accusations
of corruption from disgruntled
settlers and these were supported
by (Sir) George Arthur, who
replaced Sorell in May 1824.
The new lieutenant-governor sent to
the secretary of state a lengthy
account of Evans’ alleged
involvement in bribery and his
illegal disposing of crown lands in
an attempt to force him from office.
When Evans asked to retire on a
pension, Arthur, in order to expedite
his removal, was prepared to
concede that his practices had been
condoned by Sorell, but the stigma
effectually prevented all further
promotion of Evans’ assistant,
Thomas Scott.
Evans resigned in December 1825
on the ground of ill health, eight
months after his wife had died.
A despatch from London in May
1826 appointing him the first
surveyor-general of Van Diemen’s
Land had only recognised his
position as the Colonial Office knew
it when revising the establishment
of the Surveyor-General’s
Department; soon afterwards Earl
Bathurst wrote welcoming his
resignation, confirming his pension
and agreeing to abandon further
investigation of his past conduct.
Evans sailed for England with his
second wife, Lucy Parris, daughter
of Thomas Lempriere, in November;
while there, he supplemented his
pension of £200 by teaching art, but
in November 1828, when he heard
of Oxley’s death, he applied for
appointment as surveyor-general in
New South Wales, claiming that his
health was fully recovered.
“South West View of Hobart Town, Van Dieman’s Land ca.1819”, a watercolour
by Wiliam George Evans. Reproduced with permission of State Library of NSW.
V6/1819/1
He was unsuccessful but in 1831 he
surrendered his pension for a lump
sum of £600, and returned to
Sydney the next year.
Arriving in August he set up as a
bookseller and stationer, and soon
became drawing master at The
King’s School, then housed in
Harrisford, George Street,
Parramatta, while his wife
conducted a finishing school for
young ladies.
He returned to Hobart in 1844 to
live with his family in Warwick
Lodge, his home in New Town. After
his wife died in August 1849, he
moved to Macquarie Street, Hobart,
where he died on October 16,1852,
aged 72, and was buried in St
John’s churchyard, New Town.
He had at least twelve children,
seven by his first marriage and five
by his second.
As well as being a competent
surveyor and a resolute explorer,
Evans was an artist of some note.
His aquatint view of Hobart in 1820
was published as a frontispiece in
his Geographical, Historical and
Topographical Description of Van
Diemen’s Land … (London, 1822;
second edition, 1824; and a French
edition, Paris, 1823).
The original, with another aquatint
of Hobart in 1819, is in the Dixson
Library of New South Wales, where
four of his views of Sydney are also
hanging.
He appears to have drawn a
number of sketches and
water-colours, both of the settled
areas of the colony and of the
interior, when he journeyed with
Oxley.
His artistic skill may also have
helped him to win Paterson’s favour
in 1809 and so to restore him to
official life at that time. 5
Footsteps
in time
Move forward into the 20th century
and in the decade before 1988,
across Australia towns, cities and
villages were planning projects to
commemorate the 200 th anniversary
of the first European settlement at
Port Jackson in 1788.
In the Blue Mountains, John
Yeaman, BEM, the city engineer
had been considering a project to
recognise the significance of
Evans’ surveying exploit from the
River Lett at the base of Mount York
east to Emu Ford on the Nepean
River at Penrith .
In 1982 after having carried out
research for the Blackheath Rotary
Club’s Historic Blackheath book,
Yeaman put forward the idea that
some action should be taken to
remark the line of survey traverse
carried out by Evans in 1813-14.
John Yeaman was another to
contend that the work of Evans had
been overshadowed by the
recognition given to Blaxland,
Wentworth and Lawson.
Continued page 8
HERITAGE 7
July - August 2011

Evans’ pillars restored
by surveyors group
Continued from page 7
It was the Blue Mountains section of
the survey that interested Yeaman
On February 26, 1983 Yeaman
presented a paper to the Mount
Victoria and District Historical
Society which provides a detailed
picture of those who forged the link
between the, then modest
settlement at Port Jackson and the
vast resources of the inland
continent. 6.
The remarking of the survey line
established by Evans which Cox
followed closely, was conceived as
part of the 1988 celebrations.
Evans’ Field Book is stored in the
State Archives (Book No.96
AONSW Ref. Reel 2623) and
despite its age and poor condition, it
was possible to obtain details from
it.
There are about 500 survey points,
but initially it was decided to limit
the number of points to 12, perhaps
the most important watering holes 7 .
An Australian Bicentennial grant of
$45,000 was obtained by Blue
Mountains City Council in 1986
which permitted 14 pillars to be built
marking some of Evans’ camping
sites.
Mt York was the first pillar unveiled
in 1988. Mr AK Weatherburn, a
great, great grandson of George
Evans and author of two books on
the surveyor and his works,
unveiled the Mt York pillar.
Footsteps in Time pillars are located
at Mt York, Mt Victoria, Blackheath,
Katoomba, Wentworth Falls,
Wentworth Falls West, Lawson,
Hazelbrook, Faulconbridge,
Springwood, Warrimoo, Blaxland,
Glenbrook, Lapstone and Emu
Plains.
Each marker is identical to the base
of a trigonomical survey pillar, as
used throughout NSW for major
surveys and contains four plaques;
one giving details of the project, one
giving details of Evans and his
work, one giving reproductions of
relevant pages of his field book and
extract from his diary and one giving
details of the individual unveiling
ceremony.
An engraved steel plate on top of
the marker completes the
construction.
Over time some of the pillars have
been vandalized, while others need
refurbishment.
The Restoration of the Footsteps in
Time pillars was a project
undertaken by the Seniors Group
Institution of Surveyors NSW Inc.
funded by the Blue Mountains City
Council, Perith City Council, Land
and Property Management Authority
and Institution of Surveyors NSW 8.
The Seniors Group, Institution of
Surveyors NSW Inc. conducted a
Mike Rutlidge chairman and
Graham Hunt , survey
monuments curator, Seniors
Group Institute of Surveyors NSW
Inc. at the recent unveiling of the
Lapstone pillar.
ceremony at the Lapstone pillar in
May 2011 to mark the restoration of
the 14 pillars .
FOOTNOTES
1.
General Order 12 February 1814
2.
Lowe, David (1994). “Chapter 1.
Winddradyne of the Wiradjuri”.
Forgotten Rebels: Black Australians
Who Fought Back. Sydney: ICS and
Associates Pty Ltd. pp. 4–9. http://
www.acr.net.au/~davidandjane/
frebel_20000416.pdf.
3.
Australian Dictionary of Biography
– Online edition, Evans George
William (1780 – 1852) http://
adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/
A000103430b.htm
4.
ibid.
5.
ibid.
6.
Footsteps in Time – A road
across the mountains brochure
7.
ibid.
8
. Hunt, Graham (2011) survey
monuments curator, Seniors Group,
ISNSW Inc. - George William Evans
(1780 – 1852) a briefing paper.
The asistance of Graham Hunt, in
providing material for this article
and the image of Evans’ Azimuth
watch is acknowledged and
appreciated.
“Sydney from the western side of the Cove ca.1803” a watercolour by Wiliam
George Evans. Reproduced with permission of State Library of NSW .
XV1/1803/1
The assistance of Jan Koperberg in
facilitating the National Library of
Australia’s image of Evans and
other graphics is also
acknowledged and appreciated.
HERITAGE 8
July - August 2011

What would you keep in an empty jar?
CHRISTOPER ROBIN’S friend,
Eyeore, thought that an empty jar
was good place for dead balloons.
But what if the jar was bigger than
those in the Arabian Nights that
held rivers of gold and jewels?
What if they were as big as a
person standing up and there were
hundreds of them scattered around
the landscape, some in groups of
scores or more, some standing
alone?
What if they were two thousand
years old? What use can you
imagine?
by Dr Peter Stanbury, OAM
Would you want to research them if
the area in which they are found
has been a war zone for most of the
last hundred years?
In the last decade or so most of the
cluster bombs and other ordinances
surrounding them have been
destroyed and only shell holes and
bomb craters remain.
Now is a good time to carry out
research. In the Lao Peoples
Democratic Republic there are
thousands of stone jars.
No one really knows what they were
used for. They are thought to be
carved out of stone by iron tools.
Perhaps they were used for burials
– but did they hold raw corpses,
mummies, ashes or only goods for
use in the after life? If so, where
are the lids?
The jars are there, but why are
there virtually no lids? What is the
meaning of the infrequently found
carved human figures with
outspread arms found on some
examples?
Hundreds of these jars of unknown origin are scattered across the
landscape
The puzzle is one of the foremost
opportunities for prehistory studies
in South East Asia. Xieng Khouang
(pronounced Sieng Kwang) in the
central eastern region of Lao is a
plateau about 1200 metres above
sea level.
It has a wonderful climate for the
tropics, warm during the day and
cool at night. Many minerals are
found nearby.
The area is a military strategic point
– like a medieval castle with a view
of the surrounding countries and an
excellent position from which to
control the neighbouring peoples.
Although the area is popularly
known as the Plain of Jars, many
jars are found on hilltops and in
wooded areas.
Some sites have up to 300 jars;
some sites have a single jar. The
jars are made of a variety of
materials: sandstone, granite,
limestone or a mixed conglomerate
of material.
Some sites seem to have a nearby
stone quarry; others appear remote
from a source of stone.
So how were the jars transported?
By elephants? By pushing them
over rolling logs?
The mouths of some jars are
essentially round; others have a
rectangular or square shape.
The few flat stone discs that remain
are about the right size for lids, but
they may also have been used to
cover holes in the ground that
contained corpses, ashes or objects
of worth such as offerings.
It is interesting that the rims of the
jars vary: some have an internal
niche around the circumference,
others have an external niche and
yet others have no niche. Just one
jar has a human(?) carved on the
outside; at least one lid has a
similar carving.
Since 1998 UNESCO and the
Government of Lao PDR have been
attempting to safeguard and
research the remaining jars.
This jar shows an internal niche at its opening
Some are now broken; either in
recent wars or by human vandalism
over the ages. On many jars bullet
marks can be seen - what is better
than a big jar for target practice?
HERITAGE 9
July - August 2011

Jars crying out to be researched
The first work recently carried out
consisted of mapping the position of
the individual jars, proclaiming as
protected areas the sites where
many jars are found and clearing
(blowing up or removing)
unexploded ordnance.
After that local people have been
inducted into recording and
archaeological practices. Some
excavations have also taken place,
underneath and in the vicinity of the
jars.
The finds, however, are meagre. A
relatively small number of iron
knives have been found, as well as
the remains of bracelets of bronze,
necklaces of glass beads and
pottery.
These are either stored in the
region or a few items are on display
in the National Museum of Lao PDR
in Vientiane.
Unfortunately none are on display
at the sites; of which four or five
major ones are accessible to the
public.
Furthermore, the items in storage
are deteriorating due to lack of
conservation knowledge.
The Plain of Jars has been a war zone as seen from this newspaper
clipping which show soldiers reading maps with the large jars in the
background
The only conservators in the
country are the occasional visitors
from overseas.
The major site on an actual plain is
on the outskirts of Ponsavan (from
which airplanes and buses disgorge
tourists) and is becoming hemmed
in by farms and other undesirable
developments.
Richmal Crompton’s famous
schoolboy hero, William,
philosophised that he would be an
inventor except that the radio, the
telephone, TV and movies had all
been invented so there was nothing
left to invent.
Some times it seems that research
projects are equally elusive. But
the jars are crying out to be
researched. Is this an opportunity
for you to take one small step?
About the author
Dr Peter
Stanbury,
OAM an
executive
member of
BMACHO’s
management
committee
and a
regular
contributor
to HERITAGE is a member of
Australian Business Volunteers.
Peter is also vice chair, UMAC
(ICOM’s International Committee for
University Museums and
Collections) and librarian, Richard
Bailey Library, Australian Society of
Anaesthetists
As a volunteer he often travels
overseas to give freely of his advice
particularly in museum collections.
At the top of this jar there is an external niche
On one of his recent trips when in
Laos, Peter visited the Plain of Jars
to inspect these 2000 year old man
sized jars of uncertain origin and
function. As Peter says this is an
interesting research program just
waiting to be tackled.
HERITAGE 10
July - August 2011
.

Dear Old Golden Rule Days
EDUCATION is something which has, at some time, in some place, touched us all. Whether we left
school before matriculation, attended a tertiary education institution or are one of a growing community
of ‘life-long learners’, we have all been influenced by education at some time and at some level.
…Elissa MacDonald, Editor In Chief, aMUSine. The museums, galleries and collections zine by
interesting people for interested people.
HERITAGE is indebted to aMUSine for this first hand account of life by a young boy at Blue Mountains
Grammar School 75 years ago and before it became an exclusive boys school.
I WAS BORN IN 1926 and had attended five different
schools by the time I turned twelve years of age.
This was due to the fact that my father was a
postmaster and was moved around by the Postmaster
General’s Department during my childhood.
I think my most enduring memories are of Blue
Mountains Grammar School, Springwood where I was a
day pupil from fifth class in 1935 to 1938 when my
father’s move to Sydney resulted in my transfer to
Sutherland Intermediate High School.
After starting me off at Springwood Public School
(second and third classes), Dad decided that I should
have the opportunity to develop as a “young gentleman”
and enrolled me as a day pupil at the Blue Mountains
Grammar School whose motto was “Nihil sine labore”
(nothing without work).
At that time it was located near Springwood Railway
Station on the corner of Macquarie Road and Homedale
Street, Springwood.
The school was established by its first headmaster,
Edward Kenneth Deane, in 1918 in the grand,
Italianate home known as “Homedale”, built in 1882,
and which was demolished in 1975.
I think my father was influenced in this regard by the
Greyfriars stories, written by Frank Richards, which he
had read during his own pre World War 1 boyhood and
by friends in the close knit Springwood community.
I attended Blue Mountains Grammar School from 1935
to 1938 inclusive and apart from undergoing the usual
bullying by a couple of older day boys enjoyed it
immensely.
This faded photograph is of Rex Turner in his full
Blue Mountains Grammar uniform. Photograph
courtesy of R Turner and C MacDonald
I have very happy memories of my days at BMGS. I
remember well the masters, the old classroom building,
the pre-school morning hymn (usually hymn number 1 -
“Now that the daylight fills the sky ….. “) being beefed
out by the boys as the headmaster, Ken Deane
accompanied us on the piano, the daily fill of the three
R’s, the camaraderie of the students around me, and, of
course, our periods of play.
Having been brought up on the type of schoolboy
novels which encouraged certain qualities in their boys,
I saw BMGS in some way as the local Greyfriars or St.
Jim’s of Frank Richard’s creation, preparing us to be
men worthy of the title of gentlemen.
The words of the first verse of Sir Henry John Newbolt’s
Vitae Lampada were especially meaningful to me, and
the afternoon cricket match never failed to remind me
that:
There’s a breathless hush in the Close tonight -
Ten to make and the match to win
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,
But his Captain’s hand on his shoulder smote –
“Play up! play up! and play the game!”
HERITAGE 11
July - August 2011

Life at Blue Mountains Grammar School
75 years ago
As I have mentioned, the headmaster was Ken Deane.
He was short, rotund, stern and respected by all his
pupils. I remember him as a fun man.
He had an old, noisy Ford flat top truck (his beloved
“Tin Lizzie”) which he used to take the boys to the
roadside swimming hole at Valley Heights, and to
football matches at the Springwood Sports Ground, and
incidental tasks such as towing the school’s dead cow
from where it had succumbed to an enormous hole
where it was to be interred.
My feelings of nostalgia for my old Alma Mater are well
captured in the words of the old school song:
“Mother kind, our pride and treasure,
Bold our voices cry, and free,
Moulding us through days of pleasure
For our struggles yet to be;
Fate on blackest waves comes surging
Triumphs from our tasks may rise,
Still we strive, her proud words urging,
Labour, labour, wins the prize.
A peach tree planted atop the grave later yielded loads
of magnificent fruit. Ken Deane was instrumental in
inculcating in me a realization that I could become a
good student and, in due course I would have the
“makings of a gentleman”.
His ability to mould boys into men of worth and resolve
set me an example which I have tried to emulate
throughout my life.
Another of my teachers was the red headed Irishman
and sportsmaster, Mr Russel who also taught me Latin
(I was quite a dab hand at it) and frightened me on the
sports field (“Who kicked that football back into the
scrum?” – me of course, as I didn’t want the bloody
thing or been told what to do with it), and later after I
had been chased over the try line with the ball in my
hands and scored a couple of tries (“Good boy Turner, I
didn’t think you had it in you!”).
There was however, one teacher who I consider was
one of the greatest influences on my life - the part time
elocution teacher, Mr Gorman.
I know my elocution and language in my early school
days was basic and was a take off of the western film
stars who used to entertain me at the local picture
theatre on Saturday afternoons.
He had taken me in hand shortly after I became a
BMGS pupil. One day, I was in the Springwood Post
Office talking to Dad when, for some reason or other I
used the word “Garn!”, meaning of course, “Go on”.
I happened to look at the customer side of the post
office counter and standing there was Mr Gorman.
I cringed and repeated what I had just said – this time
saying it correctly. Mr Gorman smiled, nodded and went
on his way. My interest in his teaching was immediate
and far reaching.
He taught me that syllables, consonants and vowels all
had a purpose, and should be uttered clearly so that my
listeners would understand what I wanted to say.
He taught me not to slur my speech, and to enunciate
every word and sound properly. In essence he taught
me to speak, which has been a wonderful attribute in
my progression through life.
Hers the race we run to dying
Hers our triumph’s ringing cheer,
Hers the ball to victory flying,
Hands that strain, the line is near;
Work and play their trophies bringing,
Labour on, our school replies,
Words like bells forever ringing:
Labour, labour, wins the prize.
Glorious school, we laud thee proudly,
Giver of our fairest days,
Masters, playmates, singing loudly,
In our swelling song we praise;
Banner ever proudly bearing,
That our school waves in our eyes,
Banner direct battles daring,
Labour, labour, wins the prize.”
Ours was not a political song. “Labour” in its context
meant “Effort”, or, as Calvin Coolidge would have put it,
“Persistence and determination”. I commend its
sentiments, and as Grantland Rice wrote before me,
that . . . “when the One Great Scorer comes to mark
against your name, he writes - not that you won or lost -
But how you played the Game .”
75 years later
Rex Turner a veteran of World War 2, now aged 85
considers himself a ‘gentleman of leisure’ though in
the past he was chief executive of HCF Australia
HERITAGE is indebted to his granddaughter,Elissa
MacDonald, editor In chief, aMUSine who arranged
for this recent photograph of Rex who provided
aMUSine his
memories of
his school
days in the
Blue
Mountains 75
years ago.
Rex believes
there may only
be three of his
contemporaries
still living.
HERITAGE 12
July - August 2011

Crumbled chimney stack only reminder
of Polar explorer who lived in Woodford
By Pamela Smith
MANY NOTABLE POLITICIANS,
successful business people, war
heroes, and inspiring educators
have lived in the Blue Mountains at
one time or another.
One of these was renowned
geologist, polar explorer and
university lecturer Sir Tannatt
William Edgeworth David KBE CMG
DSO DSc FRS with wife Caroline.
The couple purchased twenty-six
acres of land at Woodford in 1898;
naming the two-roomed cottage
they built ‘Tyn-y-Coed’ (meaning
house in the wood).
The name reflected Sir David’s
Welsh birth. Born in 1858 at the
rectory of St Fagan’s in Wales, he
was the eldest child of Rev William
David a fellow of Jesus College
Oxford. Sir David graduated BA
from Oxford in 1881.
He arrived in New South Wales to
take up the position of assistant
geological surveyor following the
disappearance of Lamont H Young
(his predecessor) on a field trip to
Bermagui in 1880.
Sir David arrived in Sydney in 1882
and in July 1885, married English
born Caroline Martha (Cara) Mallet
whom he met on the voyage to
Sydney.
There is a suggestion that Cara
emigrated for reasons of health,
however it is more commonly
believed that she came to NSW to
take up an appointment as founding
principal of Hurlstone Training
College for female teachers.
Interestingly, she is thought to have
been appointed by Sir Henry
Parkes.
Mackay, David and Mawson raise
the flag at the Magnetic South
Pole January 16, 1909
William
Edgeworth
David led
first
expedition
to reach
South
Magnetic
Pole
Cara, an orphan from a working
class background received her
education by scholarship from
Whiteland College London and
later, she trained as a teacher.
She was a lecturer at the college
prior to applying for the position at
Hurlstone. Cara, a bright intelligent
woman, became interested in and
assisted with the introduction of the
free kindergarten movement in the
inner suburbs of Sydney.
She was aided by other early
feminist educators like Louisa
Macdonald and Maybanke
Wolstenholme.
Sir Edgeworth David was appointed
professor of geology in the
University of Sydney in 1891.
Sir Ernest Shackleton appointed
him as leader of the scientific team
accompanying him to the South
Pole in 1907 - 9.
Sir David led the party that
discovered the South Magnetic Pole
and he and his team scaled the
active volcano Mount Erebus.
At the outbreak of the First World
War, Sir David recruited and formed
the Australian Mining Corps that
was composed of tough individuals
from the gold, copper, coal and
silver mines of Kalgoorlie, Bendigo,
Tasmania and South Australia.
Although little is known about the
corps the most successful operation
carried out by the men serving
under Lieutenant Colonel David was
the mining under and explosion of
Messines Ridge, in 1917.
In the early part of the twentieth
century the Blue Mountains and
‘Tyn-y-Coed’ became the David’s
main place of residence.
The cottage was expanded to meet
the needs of the family and
orchards and gardens were
established. In 1909, following his
return from the Antarctic, the Davids
entertained the crew of the polar
expedition ship, Nimrod.
They were community minded and
sociable, and members of the local
Woodford Anglican Church.
In August 1934 the media of the day
announced the death of the world
famous scientist. Sir David was
given a State funeral.
It is unfortunate that the crumbled
chimney stack of ‘Tyn-y-Coed’
(destroyed by fire) is the only
reminder of the David’s time in
Woodford.
References
* The Journal of the Women’s
College, Vol. 26 No. 1, winter 2010-
11-09, p. 8.
* T.G. Vallance & D.F. Branagan,
‘David, Sir Tannatt William
Edgeworth (1858-1934),’ The
Australian Dictionary of Biography,
Volume 8, Melbourne University
Press, 1981, pp 218-221.
* Ken Goodlet, Hazelbrook &
Woodford, Ken Goodlet, 2006, p 40.
* The Argus, 29.8.1934.
* Jennifer Carter, Portrait of a Lady:
Caroline Martha David, National
Library of Australia, September
2002, Vol. XII No. 12.
* Daily Telegraph image
HERITAGE 13
July - August 2011

Special days in World War 1
by Dr Peter C Rickwood
PATRIOTIC FERVOUR was high at
times during World War I and the
civilian population of Australia was
eager to contribute to various ‘relief’
funds.
Volunteers often organised special
days which became formally named
after the particular cause, and
processions 1 , shows, etc. were
organised to attract the populace
with the aim of relieving them of
money.
Whilst some special days were on
specifically designated dates, it was
common for small communities to
hold them on a convenient nearby
day - usually a Saturday when
many were not at work; Sunday
being off-limits due to religious
observances.
This flexibility meant that the same
special day was held on different
dates at different places across
Australia and not all communities
would respond to a particular cause.
Belgium or Belgian Day, variously
reported as having been held for
the Belgian Relief Fund or to raise
funds to provide food for children in
Belgium, was on May 14, 1915 in
the Blue Mountains, May 15, 1915
in Sydney 2 , but seven weeks earlier
in Victoria on March 26, 1915 3 and
also in Tasmania 4 ; in South
Melbourne it was called Belgian
Rose Day and reputedly was held
on April 8,1915 5 . Note that it was
not held on the National Day of
Belgium, which is July 21, and
marks the accession of King
Leopold I in 1831!
A few special days were held in
successive years, e.g. Red Cross
Day.
Towards the end of the war there
must have been some negative
reaction to continual appeals for
donations, and when the Armistice
was declared local residents would
have resisted these appeals with
the intention of donating to the
expected welcome home
ceremonies for the volunteers from
their community - many of which
eventuated.
Some of the names of these special
days in the 1914 - 18 period were
unusual, and would not be known
by many 21st Century residents, so
I have attempted to compile a list.
The intent was also to show which
‘days’ were observed in which
places in the Blue Mountains, but
observances held in some villages
may have been missed as most
events were not advertised in
newspapers, and post-celebration
reports were often brief and
concealed in articles with titles that
do not convey all of their content.
Australian troops resting from the battle in Peronne (Somme) during
World War 1. Image courtesy Australian War Memorial.
THE AUTHOR
The author, Dr Peter C Rickwood,
a former president of the Blue
Mountains Historical Society Inc.
is the inaugural editor of
BMACHO’s Blue Mountains
History Journal the second
edition of which will be published
online later this year.
Peter is a visiting senior research
fellow at the School of Biological,
Earth & Environmental Science
at the University of New South
Wales.
The article first appeared in the
Blue Mountains Historical
Society’s newsletter Hobby’s
Outreach Volume 23 Number 2 –
June-July 2011
Not all villages in the Blue
Mountains observed any particular
special day and there was great
inconsistency of effort, but
Katoomba and Leura would appear
to have been the most co-operative.
Some of the designated special
days are not known to have been
observed by any of our Blue
Mountains villages e.g. Sand Bag
Day.
I am grateful to Mr John Merriman,
Local Studies Librarian, Springwood
for steering me to the Australian
War Memorial website which has a
list of these days. (http://
www.awm.gov.au/findingaids/
special/Souvenirs/Appeals.xml )
References
(For brevity, authors and titles of
articles in newspapers have been
omitted.)
1 e.g. p.41 in Smith, N., 1996.
Grandfather worked on the pool;
tales of Old Blackheath. Blue
Mountains Historical Society Inc.,
Wentworth Falls. 59pp.; Blue
Mountains City Library, Local
Studies Image PF 493. The
celebration at Katoomba is
recorded in a photograph in Blue
Mountains Historical Society
collection, No.786.
2 Sydney Morning Herald 17 May
1915, p.8, col.8.
3 Kalgoorlie Western Argus, March
30, 1915, p.8, col.1. 4
The Mercury, 26 March 26, 1915,
p.4, col.3 & March 27, 1915, p.7,
col.3. 5 The Argus, July 8, 1916,
p.20, col.8.
HERITAGE 14
July - August 2011

SPECIAL DAYS CELEBRATED IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Date From the Australian From other sources Celebrated at References
War Memorial
1 Feb 1914 Red Cross Day
14 May 1915 Belgian Day Blackheath, Katoomba, Leura & BME 30 Apr 1915, p.4, col.5;
Wentworth Falls
7 May 1915, p.3, col.3; p.3,
col.4; p.5, col.3 & 14 May
1915, p.3, col.3.
30 July 1915 Australia Day Blackheath, Katoomba, Leura, BME 30 Jul 1915, p.4 col.2
Lawson & Hazelbrook
etc.
4 Nov 1915 Allies Day SMH 5 Nov 1915, p.4, col.2.
19 Nov 1915 Allies Day Leura BME 19 Nov 1915, p.5, col.3.
10 Dec 1915 Sand Bag Day
12 Apr 1916 Allies Day
7 Jul 1916 War Chest Day Blackheath BME 7 Jul 1916, p.3, col. 2.
15 Dec 1916 Repatriation Day
23 Feb 1917 Win-the-War Day Katoomba BME 23 Feb 1917, p.2, col.4;
2 Mar 1917, p.1, col.5.
24 Feb 1917 Win-the-War Day
14 Jul 1917 France’s Day (sic) Blackheath, Katoomba & Leura BME 20 Jul 1917, p4., col.4;
p.6, cols.2-3.
28 Sep 1917 War Chest Day Leura, Lawson & Hazelbrook; BME 7 Sep 1917, p2., col. 3;
Sydney
21 Sep 1917, p.4 col. 3; 5 Oct
1917, p.3, col.4
29 Sep 1917 War Chest Day Katoomba BME 7 Sep 1917, p.2, col.3.
6 Apr 1918 Red Cross Day Medlow Bath BME 26 Apr 1918, p.4, col. 3.
24 Apr 1918 Red Cross Day Leura BME 10 May 1918, p.4, col.4
c. 4 May 1918 c. 4 May 1918 Red Cross Day Blackheath, Glenbrook, Mt Victoria BME 12 Apr 1918, p.5, col. 4;
SMH 8 May 1918 p.10, col. 6
29 Jun 1918 Italy or Italian Day Katoomba BME 28 Jun 1918, p.2, col.
4; 5 Jul 1918, p2. col. 4.
14 Jul 1918 France’s Day Katoomba BME 19 Jul 1918, p.3, col.3.
.
26 Jul 1918 Australia day
2 Aug 1918 AIF Memorial Day
13 Sep 1918 Soldiers Homes Day
14 Sep 1918 Soldiers Homes DayLeura BME 20 Sep 1918, p.1, col. 2
1 Nov 1918 Jack’s Day Katoomba, Leura, Wentworth BME 1 Nov 1918, p.2, col. 4;
Falls
8 Nov 1918, p. 4, col. 3; p.5,
col. 4.
2 Nov 1918 Jack’s Day Hazelbrook BME 1 Nov 1918, p.4, col. 4;
8 Nov 1918, p. 4, col. 3.
5 Nov 1918 Jack’s Day Blackheath BME 8 Nov 1918, p. 4, col. 3.
30 Nov 1918 War Chest Day Katoomba, Leura, Wentworth BME 22 Nov 1918, p. 3, col.
Falls 4; 29 Nov 1918, p.3, col. 3;
p5, col.6; 6 Dec 1918, p.1,
col. 5; p. .6, col.3.
Key: Jack’s Day = Sailors’ BME = Blue Mountain Echo
Day
SMH = Sydney Morning
Herald
HERITAGE 15
July - August 2011

Historic 1880s Carrington Hotel to be venue
for Blue Mountains history conference
HISTORIC CARRINGTON HOTEL,
Katoomba has been chosen as the
venue for the 2012 Blue Mountains’
history conference
“The early years of the colony” is
the title chosen by the Blue
Mountains Association of Cultural
Heritage Organisations for its first
conference to be held on Saturday,
October 20, 2012.
The conference follows earlier Blue
Mountains history conferences
organised under the auspices of
Blue Mountains City Council’s local
studies section.
BMACHO, president Pamela Smith
who was involved in the
organisation of earlier conferences,
said the event would focus on life in
the early years before the colony
was explored west of the Blue
Mountains.
The Association is planning to
present an affordable event with a
range of well-informed speakers.
Closer to the event more details and
cost to participants will be
promoted.
The keynote speaker is expected to
be well known historian, Dr Shirley
Fitzgerald.
Dr Fitzgerald was the City Historian
for the City of Sydney from 1987 -
2009, when she delivered a
program connecting the community
to their history using diverse
formats from radio chats to formal
lectures.
She has taught in NSW schools,
lectured at the University of New
England, and established the
inaugural Master of Letters degree
in Public History at the University of
Sydney.
Dr Fitzgerald has held a number of
professional positions, including
president of the History Council of
NSW, 1996 - 99 and chair of State
Records NSW, 2001 - 2007.
She was the inaugural chair of the
Dictionary of Sydney Trust and
continues to be involved in this
exciting project.
The 1880s heritage Carrington Hotel at Katoomba
She is currently Adjunct Professor
in the Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences at the University of
Technology, Sydney.
Topics will focus on:
* Fashions from frockcoat and
crinolines to convict canvas and
cabbage palm leaf hats;
* Convict Women, prostitution,
imbalance of women - their fears
and fate in a foreign environment;
* Indigenous history – First
encounters, food, language.
Indigenous interaction - From
genocide to government arrogance.
The above are only working titles
and obviously wil be refined both by
JEAN ARTHUR, the secretary of
Mount Victoria & District Historical
Society; a remarkable woman with
a wealth of knowledge about the
Mount Victoria district, had a fall
last month and fractured her
shoulder, which resulted in her
being admitted to Blue Mountains
District Anzac Memorial Hospital.
On the evening of the fall, Jean
did not feel like cooking dinner
and crossed the highway to the
garage to buy fish and chips.
On the way back she tripped in a
pothole on the corner of Mt York
Road and the Great Western
Highway and there she lay till a
gentleman from the Talisman
the committee and the speakers as
planning progresses.
Each speaker will be asked to
speak for 45 minutes and there will
be question and discussion time of
15 minutes at the end of each
paper.
Included in the program will be a
musical interlude with Jim Low a
folk singer, historian and writer
guaranteed to wake the audience
after lunch which will be served in
the Carrington’s grand dining room.
For further details contact Jan
Koperberg jank@eftel.com.au
Jean Arthur in Blue Mountains
Hospital
Gallery found her and called the
ambulance.
This chap had closed his shop in
Hartley Valley and had gone for a
bicycle ride up Berghofer’s Pass
and along Mt York Road and was
going back down Victoria Pass.
This was fortunate for Jean,
because she had been lying on the
road for some time, waiting for help,
cold and in pain.
Jean is a member of BMACHO’s
management committee
Some members have already
visited Jean in hospital or sent getwell
wishes. All wish Jean all the
the best for a speedy recovery.
HERITAGE 16
July - August 2011

School of Arts or Mechanics Institutes
have their origin in early 19th century
IN THE EARLY YEARS of the 20 th
century Mechanic’s Institutes or a
School of Arts building was a
common feature in most Blue
Mountains villages.
However, as a “movement” their
history is much older.
The first was established in
Scotland in 1821, with the aim of
improving the intellect of its
members through the “diffusion of
useful knowledge” and to nurture
“literature, science and art.” 1
by Pamela Smith, Springwood Historians
It was not too long before these
“civilising institutes” appeared in the
new colony.
With a land grant courtesy of
Governor Richard Bourke the
Sydney Mechanic’s School of Arts
opened its doors in 1833 and still
exists to this day.
Springwood was not so lucky
because even though a committee
formed in 1901, fund raising
activities and a promise of land by
James Hunter Lawson (owner of
Braemar and the Oriental Hotel)
came to nought. 2
In fact one of the members of that
early committee is thought to have
absconded with the funds.
The Springwood School of Arts
finally opened its doors in 1913,
with Mr Brinsley Hall MP officiating.
A commemorative booklet
published for the event stated the
committee overcame “great
difficulties” and “discouragement” to
bring about the end result. 3
The graceful Federation style
building was well-ventilated and lit
with Benzoli air gas lights.
As well as a well stocked library, the
building contained reading and
committee rooms, and a “fine
billiard room” - lined in Australian
timber - containing two excellent
billiard tables. 4
Pictured are the Coo - ee marchers as they marched past the
Springwood School of Arts on their way through the Blue Mountains
from Gilgandra in the central west to Sydney to enlist in World War 1
in 1915 . Local photographer, Jo Booker.
When barely twelve months old the
building provided overnight
accommodation and comfort for
men who took part in the Co - ee
March.
Later, the institute became the
scene of World War 1
commemorations when captured
enemy machine guns and the
honour roll were placed in their
keeping.
A newspaper article in 1919
suggested the Springwood School
of Arts was “indispensable” and a
fine institution “for our young men”
because no signs of gambling or
objectionable behaviour were
tolerated within the “cosy comfort”
of its walls.
‘... like an elite
men’s club
catering for the
upper class...’
Mothers and wives were being
asked to encourage their sons and
husbands to join.
Research indicates however that
despite these overtures to the
general community the institution
did not realise its primary objectives
until the 1940s.
Until then it had functioned more
like an elite men’s club catering to
the upper-class demographics of
the area at that time.
But, by the 1940s all that had
changed. In 1943 the Australian
Labor Party held meetings there
and Red Cross ladies conducted
fund raising activities from the
veranda of the building.
During the 1940’s Horace Lindrum,
Australia’s first professional snooker
and billiards player was a regular
visitor.
Lindrum (who would go on to win
the world snooker title in 1952) was
featured in a competition to aid the
Australian Comforts Fund in 1944.
An amount of £56 was raised.
In 1946 an essay competition held
by the institution was judged by
one-time resident, Supreme Court
Judge and patron of the Arts, Rae
Else Mitchell.
Continued page 18
HERITAGE 17
July - August 2011

Council explains LEP processes
AN INFORMATION SHEET on LEP
processes has recently been
released by Blue Mountains City
Council
The following information provides
some background on previous
council processes, planning
instruments and heritage studies
and why Council is moving towards
a review of heritage items under
LEP 1991.
Council currently holds three Local
Environmental Plans which apply to
land throughout the Local
Government Area. They are:
∗
Local Environmental Plan
No.4 (LEP 4). This plan
applies to limited sites
throughout the LGA, is the
oldest plan operating in
the LGA and was gazetted
in 1982.
• Local Environmental Plan
1991 (LEP 1991). This
plan applies to outlying
areas, land on the edges
of towns and villages and
rural sites throughout the
LGA. It was gazetted in
1991.
Springwood School of Arts
Continued from page 17
Over the ensuing years the building
was used by a range of
organisations like the local historical
society, Boy Scouts & Guides,
dance and musical groups, The Old
Age Pensioners Association,
Citizens Recruitment League, Red
Cross and Children’s Library Group
conducted by caricaturist, cartoonist
and artist George Finey.
During its lifetime it provided a
venue for community celebrations,
entertainments as well as charitable
and wartime efforts.
• Local Environmental Plan
2005 (LEP 2005). This
plan applies to the core
villages and towns
throughout the LGA and
was gazetted in 2005.
History on LEP 2005
The development and gazettal of
LEP 2005 took a number of years to
complete and there were a number
of draft LEP documents publicly
exhibited and commented upon.
In all the LEP 2005 instrument went
through two exhibition processes,
before it was finally gazetted by the
Department of Planning in 2005.
Blue Mountains Draft Local
Environmental Plan 2002 (DLEP
2002) was placed on public
exhibition between October 16 and
December 13, 2002.
Council went through an exhaustive
public review of DLEP 2002 in
response to the submissions
received from the community,
internal review of the document and
changes in government legislation.
The review of the DLEP 2002
resulted in council making a number
In the years following World War 2
the institution, which had never
been strongly supported, faced
competition from new technology
like the advent of television.
Nevertheless, the building was used
right up until its demolition in 1969.
The Foundation Stone now graces
the School of Arts Town Square.
1
ENDNOTES
The Dictionary of Sydney,
www.dictionaryofsydney.org
2
Nepean Times, 31.8.1901.
3
Booklet in the ownership of the
late Ern Lesslie.
4
Nepean Times, 10.5.1913.
Springwood images courtesy of
Springwood Library and local
studies collection
of alterations to to the draft plan.
The substantive bulk of the
alterations were minor changes that
did not change the role, operation
and purpose of the LEP.
Consequently council adopted
those changes. However, there
were a number of alterations which
were more substantive and council
resolved to defer these issues and
seek public comments on these
deferred matters.
A second public exhibition of
deferred matters was undertaken
between October 16 and
December 13, 2002 and the
exhibition period was extended until
January 17, 2003.
Following exhibition, council
considered submissions and made
appropriate changes to the DLEP
and it was sent to the NSW State
Government for gazettal.
The LEP was named Local
Environmental Plan 2005 and was
gazetted on October 7, 2005.
Heritage listed site ... Lennox
Bridge, Glenbrook
Springwood School of Arts ... a
graceful Federation style building
This article has previously been
published on website of Springwood
Historians.www.springwoodhistorians
blogspot.com
Heritage listed site ... Norman
Lindsay Gallery and gardens,
Faulconbridge
Continued page 19
HERITAGE 18
July - August 2011

Heritage is only one component of an LEP
Continued from page 18
Standard LEP
On March 31, 2006 the NSW
Government gazetted a standard
instrument for preparing new LEPs,
also known as the LEP template.
Local plans across NSW will now
use the same planning language,
making it easier for communities to
understand what is proposed for
their local area.
Blue Mountains City Council is
using a staged approach to
achieving a standard LEP
instrument.
The first stage is to review LEP 4
and LEP 1991 and bring these
forward into the LEP 2005
instrument, therefore creating one
LEP for the entire LGA.
The second stage will involve
converting LEP 2005 into the
Standard LEP instrument thereafter.
It is important to understand that
creating an LEP is a lengthy
process and may take a number of
years to complete.
For example, the expected time
frame for creating one LEP for the
entire LGA is expected to be
completed at the end of 2013.
Review of LEP 1991
Heritage is only one component of
the final comprehensive LEP .
Heritage listed site ... Chimney
Cottage, Mt Wilson
Heritage listed site ... Bills horse
trough, Glenbrook
Council has received support from
the Department of Planning that
amendments to heritage items be
undertaken to LEP 1991 before it is
amalgamated into LEP 2005.
Therefore council staff are working
towards updating and revising LEP
1991 Schedule 2 – Heritage and its
associated mapping before it is
rolled into the revised
comprehensive LEP 2005.
Previous Heritage Studies
The first comprehensive heritage
study undertaken in the Blue
Mountains Local Government Area
was a study completed in 1982 by
Croft and Associates which applied
to numerous sites throughout the
LGA.
This study was later used as a basis
for further heritage work.
Professor Ian Jack and Associates
was engaged by council to
undertake various heritage
assessments and reviews to update
heritage listings.
Dr Jim Smith was engaged by
Council in 2010 to undertake a
heritage study on natural areas
covered by LEP 1991.
These include walking tracks,
lookout and other heritage items of
natural value.
A number of the heritage reviews
which have been undertaken over
the years, have not been publicly
exhibited and the information has
not been carried forward into an
LEP instrument.
This is where some confusion may
lie with community members, in that
information from previous
community consultation may not
have resulted in amendments to the
statutory LEP instrument.
Council is now working towards
enacting previous heritage reviews
undertaken and community input
and carrying these forward into a
revised and updated heritage
schedule.
The first stage of the process is to
consult with land owners of
potential heritage items, publicly
exhibit the heritage assessments
Heritage listed site ... Knapsack
Zig Zag, Lapstone
Heritage listed site ... Woodford
Academy
and reviews related to LEP 1991
items and seek council
endorsement of these documents.
The second stage of the process is
to carry forward the proposed
amendments into an LEP
amendment to LEP 1991.
HAVING
TROUBLE
WITH THE
WEBSITE?
BMACHO’s webmaster, Peter
Hughes has placed the following
message on the BMACHO
website for Calendar of Events:
“If the file shows the previous
month click on the refresh
button on your browser or
press F5 on the keyboard”
This message also applies to
archived copies of the
HERITAGE newsletter.
The webmaster has also
updated the “Contacts” on the
website and you might have to
use the refresh button or press
F5 on the keyboard to update to
view.
HERITAGE 19
July - August 2011

Heritage briefs from around the world
Greeks resist sale of
heritage sites
A ROYAL PALACE where Prince
Philip was born has been the focus
of protests against the sale of
Greece’s national heritage to pay off
its debts.
The Greek government has plans to
sell state assets in a bid to raise 50
billion Euro.
Mon Repos Palace in Corfu one of
the largest Greek islands, where
Prince Philip, the Duke of
Edinburgh, was born 90 years ago,
is one of several state-owned
properties to be auctioned.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
The fear is that places such as this
will be sold off to private foreign
buyers and closed off forever to the
public. Telegraph, London
Fears for prehistoric art
CAVES containing some of the
world’s best prehistoric art are to be
opened to the public despite
warnings that human breath will
destroy the 20,000-year-old
paintings.
Scientists have said the decision
carried ‘immeasurable’ risks.
Bligh’s medals up for
auction
TWO GOLD MEDALS (pictured)
awarded to Bounty captain, William
Bligh have been put up for auction
by his descendants.
The first medal
was awarded in
1794 by the Royal
Society in
England for
Bligh’s work
started on the
voyage on the
Bounty, relating to
bread-fruit, which
had been
discovered in Tahiti.
The botanist Sir Joseph Banks was
keen to transplant the crop to the
West Indies as a food source for
slave labourers.
Springwood emblem
controversy
THE MAY-JUNE EDITION of
HERITAGE , published an article by
Shirley Evans about the design in
1965, by Norman Lindsay of what
was described as a coat of arms.
The Springwood Chamber of
Commerce decided it was a
propitious time for the town to have
its own coat of arms which could
then be permanently displayed in
the new hall.
The second is the Naval Gold
Medal 1795 awarded to ship’s
captains.
Bligh won his for his role at the
Battle of Camperdown, a major
naval action on October 11, 1797
between the Royal Navy and the
Dutch Navy in which the British
captured 11 Dutch ships without
loss of any of their own. The Sydney
Morning Herald
meanings; they are not
interchangeable.
The crest is the top part (often
animal, piece of armour or
sword) on or of a coat of arms
The vast Altamira caves, discovered
in 1879 in the Cantabria region of
Spain have been called the Sistine
Chapel of Paleolithic art.
They are covered in paintings of
European bison, bulls and other
animals.
The site is a UNESCO declared
World Heritage Site. Telegraph,
London
However, it could not be regarded
as a genuine coat of arms, the right
for which needed to be granted by
the Royal College of Arms in
London.
The Blue Mountains City Council
already had a coat of arms so it was
decided to call it the Springwood
emblem or crest.
It also happened to be the 150th
anniversary of the naming of
Springwood by Governor Lachlan
Macquarie
A reader and contributor to this
newsletter, Dr Peter Stanbury OAM
has correctly pointed out that coat
of arms and crest has quite specific
The blazon of arms for the above
coat of arms would be as follows:
Arms: “Argent, a saltire azure,
cantoned with four markings of
ermine sable.” (Silver or white
shield with a blue saltire or ‘X’ and
in four-equidistant places the
marking of the ermine ‘fur’ in black.)
Crest: “A lion’s head erased azure
langued gules.” (A lion’s head cut
off at the neck with a flourish, in
blue with a red tongue.)
HERITAGE 20
July - August 2011
.

The Domesday Book
THE DOMESDAY BOOK was
commissioned in December 1085
by William the Conqueror, who
invaded England in 1066.
The first draft was completed in
August 1086 and contained records
for 13,418 settlements in the
English counties south of the rivers
Ribble and Tees (the border with
Scotland at the time).
The original Domesday Book has
survived over 900 years of English
history and is currently housed in a
specially made chest at The
National Archives in Kew, London 1.
“…While spending the Christmas
of 1085 in Gloucester William had
deep speech with his counsellors
and sent men all over England to
each shire to find out what or how
much each landholder had in land
and livestock, and what it was
worth,” according to the Anglo-
Saxon Chronicle.
BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL
HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC.
REGISTERED OFFICE 14 Bunnal Ave, Winmalee 2777
E-mail: jank@eftel.com.au or bmacho.heritage@gmail.com
Website: www.bluemountains.heritage.com
THE ORGANISATION Blue Mountains Association of
Cultural Organisations Inc. (BMACHO) was established
in April 2006 following a unanimous response to a
proposal from Professor Barrie Reynolds at the 2004
Blue Mountains Local History Conference which sought
from Blue Mountains City Council the creation of a
cultural heritage strategy for the city.
BMACHO in its constitution uses the definition: “Cultural
heritage is all aspects of life of the peoples of the Blue
Mountains which was later changed to cover Lithgow and
the villages along the Bell’s Line of Roads. It therefore
involves the recording, preserving and interpreting of
information in whatever form: documents, objects,
recorded memories as well as buildings and sites.”
The objectives of the organisation are:
i. To raise public consciousness of
the value of cultural heritage.
ii. To encourage and assist cultural
heritage activities of member organisations.
iii. To initiate and support cultural
heritage activities not already covered by
member organisations.
One of the aims of BMACHO is to bring the various
bodies into closer contact, to encourage them to work
more closely together and to provide a combined voice
on matters of importance within the heritage sector.
One of the main purposes of the
survey was to determine who held
what and what taxes had been
liable under Edward the Confessor;
the judgment of the Domesday
assessors was final—whatever the
book said about who held the
material wealth or what it was worth,
was the law, and there was no
appeal.
It was written in Latin, although
there were some vernacular words
inserted for native terms with no
previous Latin equivalent, and the
text was highly abbreviated.
Richard FitzNigel, writing around
the year 1179, stated that the book
was known by the English as
‘Domesday’, that is the Day of
Judgement “for as the sentence of
that strict and terrible last account
cannot be evaded by any skilful
subterfuge, so when this book is
appealed to ... its sentence cannot
be put, quashed or set aside with
impunity.
Domesday Book and chest at the
National Archives, Kew, London
That is why we have called the book
‘the Book of Judgement’ ... because
its decisions, like those of the Last
Judgement, are unalterable.”
In August 2006 a complete online
version of Domesday Book was
made available for the first time by
the United Kingdom’s National
Archives 2 .
References
1.
www.domesdaybook.co.uk/
2
.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Domesday_Book
MEMBERSHIP The following organisations are members of
BMACHO: Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah,
Blue Mountains City Library, Blue Mountains Cultural Heritage
Centre, Blue Mountains Historical Society Inc., Blue
Mountains Family History Society Inc., Blue Mountains
Tourism Limited, Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute,
Cudgegong Museums Group Inc., Everglades Historic House
& Gardens, Friends of Norman Lindsay Gallery, Glenbrook &
District Historical Society Inc., Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical
Society Inc, Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort, Lithgow and
District Family History Society Inc., Lithgow Mining Museum
Inc., Lithgow Regional Library – Local Studies, Lithgow Small
Arms Factory Museum Inc, Mid-Mountains Historical Society
Inc, Mid Western Regional Council Library, Mt Victoria and
District Historical Society Inc., Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine History
Society Inc. (including Turkish Bath Museum), Mudgee
Historical Society Inc., Mudgee Regional Library, National
Trust of Australia (NSW) - Blue Mountains Branch (including
Woodford Academy), National Trust of Australia (NSW) -
Lithgow Branch, Scenic World – Blue Mountains Limited,
Springwood & District Historical Society Inc., Springwood
Historians Inc., Transport Signal and Communication Museum
Inc., The Darnell Collection Pty Ltd, Valley Heights
Locomotive Depot and Museum, Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd.
The following are individual members: Ray Christison,
Associate Professor Ian Jack, Joan Kent, John Leary OAM,
John Low, Ian Milliss, Professor Barrie Reynolds, and Dr Peter
Stanbury OAM.
COMMITTEE The committee for 2011-12 is: Pamela Smith
(president), Ian Jack (vice president), Jan Koperberg
(secretary), Joan Kent (treasurer), Jean Arthur, Doug
Knowles, John Leary, Dick Morony (public officer), Kathie
McMahon-Nolf, Barrie Reynolds and Peter Stanbury.
HERITAGE BMACHO’s official newsletter is edited by
John Leary, OAM.
Blue Mountains History Journal is edited by
Dr Peter Rickwood.
HONORARY AUDITOR: Sue McMahon, B Comm CPA.
AFFILIATIONS BMACHO is a member of the Royal
Australian Historical Society Inc.
HERITAGE 21
July - August 2011